New rules to crack down will hide the names of MPs under investigation

Currently Parliament’s sleaze watchdog must publish the name of any politician it is investigating.

But the cross-party group in charge of drawing up the new Independent Complaints and Grievance Policy in the wake of last year’s Westminster sex abuse scandal plans to give confidentiality to all MPs under investigation.

In a damning verdict today, a report by the Commons Standards committee, which has seen the proposals, is expected to savage the move to hide the identify of MPs under investigation.

It will warn that any move to give confidentiality to MPs under investigation for allegations unrelated to bullying or sexual harassment such as financial misconduct would undermine trust among voters.

The move would "roll back a key element of openness in the existing system," the report is expected to warn.

Furious MPs demanded an immediate re-write of the new code of conduct. Senior Labour MP John Mann branded the plans "not acceptable".